My word for the New Year

All this past week I’ve had this blog post swirling around in my head but have not been able to write because of internet problems.  What has been going in my head has been quite comical too.  {smile}

You see, when I first began thinking on my word for the new year, I had one particular word come to mind.  And I mean it immediately came into my head when I started thinking on what my word could be for the year... I’m pretty sure there is no denying that this is my focus word for the year.

But all week while I waited for the internet to be fixed, I’ve been trying to change my word.  My conversations with God went a little something like this:

So I’ve been reading Philippians 4 and I think that Joy would be a good word.  I need to do less complaining.

And I would still hear this other word in my head.

What about Contentment?  I could sure use a big dose of that!

And yet again, I would hear this other word.

I even tried this one:

I could focus on all three.  Make all three my words for the year.

I then remembered how I tend to take on too many things and focus on too many things therefore making my life a little cah-ra-zy!  It needs to be simple. One word.

By now, you’re probably ready for me to get to the point of the blog post, huh? {smile}  So my word for the new year is:

Others

I have recently seen…who am I kidding…I’ve always been painfully aware of my tendency to make it all about me.  Yes, I do need to focus on me some in regards to my health and stuff like that…not talking about that.  Talking more about making sure that I focus on truly giving myself for others.

• Giving myself to my kiddos without complaining or sighing
• Giving my husband respect and helping him without complaining or sighing (my pattern is starting to appear, isn’t it?)
• Spending mornings with God and really diving deeply into His word.  Being open to His calling (dare we say it?) without complaining or sighing.
• Opening my home to others and letting go of my insecurities about it
• Making sure that my friends have a safe place to come to in times of need…anytime
• Being the kind of neighbor that I need to be and not expecting anything in return
• Being there for my extended family – my parents, Dave’s parents, our Grandmas, all of our brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts & uncles, and nieces & nephews & cousins.  I want them to know how much they mean to us and making sure that I show them.
• Loving the “un-cool” of the world or those that tend to be looked down upon.  They need love too.

Most of us are very busy.  And in my busy-ness, I tend to forget to focus on others.   I can get so caught up in the laundry and dishes that I forget to smile at my family.  Or when called to help with a task, I’ll let out a big sigh.  Or I forget to call a loved one on his or her birthday.  Or I’m not there to listen to a friend who needs an ear.

We need to be busy taking care of our families and doing our day-to-day tasks.  But my prayer is that in my everyday, I will take time to not just get the next task done but to show love to those around me.  To truly give myself to

Others

And I have a feeling that when I start focusing more on others and less on myself, I may just get to experience those other two words (joy and contentment) that I tried to make my focus words of the year.